Spring-release device.



R. H. WHITCOMB.

SPRING RELEASE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 1915.

1, 179,590. Patented Apr. 18, 1916. I

4; I FIG. 3 I: 4

FIG. 4

IN V EN TOR.

WZ/WM rm: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, n. c

RALPH H. WHITCOMB, OF AMHERST. MASSACHUSETTS SPRING-RELEASE DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RALPH I-I. WHITCOMB, a citizen of the United States, residing in Amherst, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Spring-Release Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to spring release devices and its employment in a tail holding and other analogous devices.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and effective device by the employment of which an object, such for instance, as a cows tail, may be held out of the way of the milker and with which if superior strain be exerted, caused for instance, by the cows lying down, the holding member will be automatically released, thus precluding the possibility of injury to the animal.

It has the further object of providing means for changing the tension required to release the holding member permitting adjustments to suit varying conditions.

In the drawings I illustrate the constructlon of my device and show it as employed as a part of a cow tail holder.

In the drawings similar numerals indicate like parts through the several figures.

Figure 1 illustrates the device on a small scale and arranged as employed as a cow tail holder. Fig. 2 is a side view of the holder showing two latches of difierent shape, both pivotally mounted on the spring. Fig. 3 is a top view of the same. Fig. 4 illustrates a modification in which three latches or releasing members are employed, each being of different length, and Fig. 5 illustrates a modification wherein means is provided for varying the tension required to release the latch.

The construction and operation of my device will be readily understood on reference to the drawings.

In each of the different forms illustrated it will be seen the latch is pivotally or loosely mounted on, or connected with the spring,

so that when the spring is extended a predetermined distance the latch escapes from the eye 8 allowing the ring 5 to escape from the latch. It will readily be seen that two or more latches may be mounted on a single spring and that latches of various shapes and forms may be employed.

In Fig. 2, I illustrate the spring with two Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed June 15, 1915. Serial No. 34,251.

latches mounted thereon, the one on the right of the figure being adapted to receive the ring without the necessity of the latch being released from the eye 8, while that on the left requires that the latch be moved out of the eye 8 before the ring 5 is mounted thereon. In Fig. 4: I illustrate a like construction excepting that the latches are all of the simplest type and are of different lengths so that if greater strain is desirable before the releasing of the ring, then the longest latch is employed. The device will then of course not operate to release the latch until the spring has been extended a greater distance than would be the case if the shorter latch were employed.

In Fig. 5 I illustrate a modification wherein any type of latch may be employed but where the varying tension or strain required to release the latch is attained by the employement of adjusting means resulting in extending the free end of the latch a greater or less distance through the holding eye 8, and as one means to conveniently provide for such adjustment I illustrate the eye provided threaded member 10 in engagement with the spring and having mounted on the threaded portion the lower end of the latch L, the same being held in position by one or more nuts 11, 12. It will be seen that with this construction when strain is applied on the cord 6, the latch will be drawn downwardly thus extending the spring and at the same time the threaded member 10 will turn on its hook connection with the lower part of the spring until the spring has been opened sufliciently to allow the free end of the latch to escape from the eye' 8 and it will be readily seen that the tension required in order to accomplish the release of the latch may be varied by moving the nuts up or down on the member 10.

It will readily be seen that without material change springs of other types and that latches and pivotal connections of various kinds may be employed without departure from my invention.

For the purposes of convenience in placing the latch in the eye 8 and to avoid the necessity of extending the spring and projecting the latch longitudinally through the eye 8, I prefer that this eye be formed so that the latch will just pass laterally through the opening into the eye 8 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Having therefore described my invention,

What I claim as new and desireto secureby Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the/character described, the combination of a spring adapted to be supported and having a latch supporting extension, a latch engaging eye and a latch" loosely mounted on the spring extension and arranged to engage the eye, and adapted to be released at a predetermined point when the spring is putunder therequisite tension. 2. In a device of the character descrlbed,

tegral therewith and a latch pivotally Gopies'ot this patent may' be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patents,

mounted on the spring at the opposite end,

and adapted to engage said eye.

4. Ina" device of the character described, a spring, an eye, and a latch adapted to engage the eye and to move laterally away therefrom when released and adjustably RALPH H; WHITCOMB.

wa'lmnmn, me." 

